Just announced for the Uncut Arena are Liverpool ’s finest psychedelic indie rockers, The Coral, who will be performing an acoustic set for Latitude Festival.

Since the release of the bands eponymous self-titled debut back in 2002 the band have progressed beyond the confines of the average guitar band and created an original sound all of their own. After making quite an impression on the American music critics with a successful set of tour dates alongside the Arctic Monkeys in September of last year and the release of their fifth album ‘Roots & Echoes’, the band have stated in various publications that they are now progressing into movie soundtrack work, essentially combining visuals with their music for an all round tingle of the senses.

Wild Beasts truly live up to their name with erratic soaring falsetto vocals and chiming guitars to create an eccentric, engaging performance. The four piece from Kendall via Leeds recently signed to Domino Records with whom they will release their hotly anticipated debut album ‘Limbo, Panto’ in June. The band will be playing on the Saturday joining the brilliant line up in the Uncut Arena.

With many stories to tell and seven albums to their name since their first jam together in 1997, Merseyside experimental group Clinic are one of the few groups of their genre (if you can really find one) to have stood the test of time and never compromise their sound based on the mainstream opinion. Having toured the UK with Arcade Fire in 2007 and remaining a key influence for many alternative artists, Clinic have always strived to be the people’s band they really are. Check out one of the most hard working bands around in the Sunrise Arena.

Lykke Li (real name Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson) has been a prominent figure in the Swedish indie scene since the national release of her debut album ‘Youth Novels’ in February of this year. Following a successful performance on Later With Jo ols Holland back in April, she has already left quite an impression on the UK music critics. Her music is a self-described mixture of soul, electro and sugar powdered pop which is sure to keep you dancing as much as it will bring a tear to your eye. Be sure not to miss the perfect complement to a Sunday afternoon at the Sunrise Arena this year.

Coming out of the North London scene like a brooding monster ready to lay its assault on the ears of the masses, the Sunrise Arena welcomes Animal Kingdom – a band with a somewhat darker edge. First impressions will leave you with a feeling that this is somewhere in between the subtlety of Elliott Smith and the swagger of the Rolling Stones, Animal Kingdom’s music is loaded with beautiful hooks and displays of song writing maturity far beyond their years.

Forever stuck in the same category as The White Stripes, it has always proven a tough mountain to climb for two piece bands to escape this tag. In recent days with the insurgence of acts like Latitude 2008 stars Crystal Castles and Patti Plinko & Her Boy, it seems that this is a problem slowly disappearing. Sheffield boy/girl duo Slow Club are fellow fighters of the two piece, loaded with sultry pop melodies and dance floor inspired beats that are an altogether different experience to the current crop of young Indie acts floating around at the moment. Quintessential pop with an everlasting charm, they are certainly one to put a smile on your face and heart on Friday’s Sunrise Arena.

Headlining this year’s event on the Obelisk Arena, Scottish art-rock heroes Franz Ferdinand play their only English festival show exclusively at Latitude on the Friday night; the majestic and soaring Icelandic post-rock outfit Sigur Rós head up Saturday’s line-up and New York titans Interpol close the arena on the Sunday with their unique brand of powerful and atmospheric inventive indie rock. Friday night over on the Uncut Arena will see an incredibly special performance from Africa’s funkiest band, the remarkable Amadou and Mariam and throughout the rest of the weekend the Obelisk and Uncut Arenas will host stunning performances from Nick Cave’s Grinderman, the beautiful poetry of Martha Wainwright, epic musicians The Mars Volta, the charming Death Cab for Cutie, the superb Elbow, legendary alt rockers The Breeders, legendary performer Julian Cope and grime, hip-hop, electro pop queen, M.I.A.

Boasting four Music Arenas, the Obelisk, Uncut, Sunrise and The Lake Stage span a wide range of genres and music hand-picked especially for the festival; bands and artists are chosen with the essence of Latitude in mind. More established bands play in harmony alongside the freshest new acts and with so much more to be announced – it only gets better!

Ticket Information
Weekend tickets £130 plus booking fees.
www.festivalrepublic.com
www.seetickets.com
www.latitudefestival.co.uk

What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The audience: they seem more easygoing and relaxed than most festival crowds. Not frazzled, like they’ve been engaged in trench warfare for days, rather than enjoying themselves in the outdoors. Latitude seems to attract an interesting diversity of types and ages too.

What can people expect you to bring to the festival
A pink suit and a sturdy umbrella.

…and do you have anything special planned?
Eating ice cream in the sunshine in a sheep meadow – my idea of a good time. Maybe see what’s happening down at the Bimble Inn??

If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
I can’t imagine a more pleasurable way to pass a summer’s day.

What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Pink, of course… to match both my suit and drum kit.